Hey everyone! Today, I’m excited (and a little nervous) to share my very first YouTube video (created with Descript) with you. 🎥 It’s a rough cut, but, as they say, you’ve got to start somewhere, right?
For this video, I decided to dive into a book that’s been on my mind a lot lately: Weird Scenes Inside The Canyon: Laurel Canyon, Covert Ops, and the Dark Heart of the Hippie Dream by David McGowan. This book has truly flipped my view of the 1960s upside down, and I just had to talk about it.
Before we get into the details of the book, I want to give a quick shoutout to Descript, the tool I used to edit this video. This is my first time using it, and let’s just say—it’s been a learning experience. The editing might be a little rough around the edges, but you can’t get to where you want to go without taking that first step. So here it is—raw and real!
Why This Book?
If you’ve ever thought of the 1960s as a time of peace, love, and rock ‘n’ roll, well, this book might challenge some of those ideas. Weird Scenes Inside The Canyon explores the idea that the counterculture movement, particularly in Laurel Canyon, might not have been as organic as we’ve been led to believe. David McGowan suggests that many of the key players in the 60s music scene had ties to the military and intelligence communities—think Jim Morrison, David Crosby, and others.
I won’t spoil too much here because I really want you to check out the video, but trust me, this book will make you rethink a lot of what you thought you knew about the era. It’s full of mind-bending claims that, whether you believe them or not, will definitely get you thinking.
The Learning Curve with Descript
As someone who’s used technology my entire career, I have a love-hate relationship with new tools. Descript, the editing tool I used for this video, definitely tested my patience, but I’m grateful for the learning experience. It’s powerful but, like anything new, takes some getting used to. If you’re new to video editing like me, I encourage you to give it a shot. It’s amazing what you can do once you push through those early struggles.
What’s Next?
This is just the beginning! I plan to refine my video skills, tackle new topics, and improve with each upload. In future videos, I’ll dive even deeper into more fascinating books, films, and other things that shape our cultural perspective. Stay tuned!
Watch the Video Here!
If you’re curious, check out my video on YouTube:
It’s far from perfect, but I’m proud of it. Feel free to leave feedback or suggestions—I’m here to learn, grow, and create content that resonates with all of you.
Until next time!
Dina
